Who invented the theory that everything imaginable exists somewhere?

Question

I've often heard the theory that everything imaginable, no matter how make-believe, physically exists somewhere in the known universe. Does anyone know the philosopher who first brought up this theory? I have a feeling that it may have been concieved by a character from a novel. If this is the case, does anyone know which novel and which character?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I thought I was the first, but I would have said all in this dimension over time. It probably comes from trying to find a unified field theory or a theory of everything in Quantum Physics and the myriad of dimensions some are coming up with, to do it. There are a lot of theorists working on those issues in spirituality, self help and theoretical sciences as well as individuals.

Answer 2

What is imagination?
Can you imagine which you already don't know?
Just try to imagine a shape or a color or a thing which you don't know up to now.
It is not possible cause our imagination is nothing but what we have already experienced.
So this proves that imagination is not new thing entirely.
But in imagination we can combine two unrelated things.
Like for example I can imagine sun with water in it.
It may sound ludicrous. But taken sun and water separately is meaningful but my imagination can combine with out reason.
So our imagination uses the existing data in our mind and makes new combinations and says its new.
But tell me is it new?
And as far as I know this theory is already told by great sages of India before some 10 and thousands of years ago may be even before that .
What we know up to know is a drop in the ocean of history.
So many great people might have lived on this earth greater than the sages, greater than the philosophers like Socrates, greater than the scientist like Einstein,greater than the so called messengers or incarnations of GOD or sons of GOD.
We know a little than little that's for sure.

All the best.
Thank you.

Answer 3

Wow! i like that idea! i would so love to be physically be in the same place as my imagination.. but again... think about it this way... what if the universe only exists physically in our imaginations? and we people are only a network of minds creating a common place and time to pass our lives.

Answer 4

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibnitz expressed such ideas, but I am not certain that he was the first. Plato edged around such an idea. I have a degree in Art and Philosophy, so I know much about World Philosophy, and I do mean World, ie. I study Asian as well as European. My #1 lover Miyuki is from Japan, and she is impressed by my knowledge of her native land.

Answer 5

Plato. Here :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plato#Recurrent_themes

Answer 6

i have no clue but something crazy to think about. :)